Disclaimer.

Now I know Alec would not be ashamed of his body, we all know this, but in the particular situation he did find himself last chapter, well things were slightly different. But don't worry he'll soon turn things around. Sorry it took so long.. but I was seriously having troubles figuring out what they would do and what I would have done personally just wasn't right either… it's still a bit early for that. ;)

Chapter Sixteen

If Max was to look up, she would have seen Alec's face clinched, eyes forcibly shut, with the world's most uncomfortable looking squirm on is brow. She might have even observed the inaudible mumble that only presented in the miniscule movement of his lips as he prayed for death or something similar. Something to take him away from that moment. She didn't see all that.

Why?

Because she was concentrated lower. To give her some credit it was at her eye level but then again she could have averted her eyes with no problem. Perhaps she stared because that's how she'd frozen and she hadn't been able to wake herself up yet. Maybe she was still staring because of the gigantic surprise she'd gone through. And still perchance, it was because she wanted to and wasn't particularly certain on what else to do.

After all, no one had ever accidentally exposed himself to her.

What does one do in that situation?

As it turned out she didn't have to answer her own question; because, well… Alec did it for her. What does one do when he is standing in all his glory in front of perhaps his best friend who one hassles day in and day out about sex, all things relating to sex and especially being naked?

One panics.

Eyes wide shut, clinched together so tight it hurt, Alec's hands flew to the main source of his embarrassment covering it as best as he could while, thanks to his photographic memory ran for it with no need to see going straight for the living room and slamming the sliding doors behind him.

'Shit, shit, shit, shit, holy FUCKING shit!'

Alec's brain was momentarily one worded.

Panicking, achieved absolutely nothing, he knew this like every single other soldier manticore ever produced. The X5 had never panicked much in his 20 odd years. Of course there had been times, some serious, some comical, but he'd almost always been able to keep his cool and remain calm and collected. That was how you solved a problem, because when one panics, the brain shuts down non-vital parts of the brain and basically only leaves on, the run and hide part.

He had panicked, and because of this he was now stuck, naked, in the living room with all his clothes in the wardrobe. To get to the wardrobe he'd have to go back into the dining, past Max, into the bedroom and into the wardrobe.

'Shit!'

This really wasn't good.

How was he supposed to figure out what to do when Max still hadn't moved and all he could think about was what had just happened? His fucking brain was on loop!

'Alec my man, just breathe, breath and think you dumbass!'

Meanwhile Max in the next room was still staring in the same spot he'd been, still desperately trying to jumpstart her neurons. Her sparkplugs were obviously not firing and she was beginning to think maybe they'd taken in too much water and needed to dry out a bit.

Alec.

Birthday suit…

Alec…

Alec was…

Okay trying again.

Alec, well Alec… Alec…

This was hopeless.

Naked; Alec was naked.

Aha! Success! Thought number one.

Unfortunately that led to all the thoughts that had gotten stuck at the sector checkpoints in her brain rushing through and causing a riot, thereby causing more confusion and chaos and bringing her back to square one.

Alec had stood naked. Naked in front of her. Alec had stood aroused and naked in front of her.

At this rate, America would recover from the pulse before she finally managed to acknowledge what had taken place. And if there was such a thing, Armageddon would come before she managed to do something.

Max decided, that this was not a situation to dwell on and over analyse; in a situation like this, one needs to act impulsively. Watching her through the glass pane on the door Alec cursed himself for the hundredth time as she got up and not even casting a glance his way walked away into their bedroom and disappeared from his view, 'Way to go, really, a clown couldn't have done it better!' he berated.

Waiting he counted to ten to see if she'd come back, but when she didn't the mortified X5 tentatively slid the partition a few of inches open, just enough for him to fit his head through and take a better look. She'd gone. Alec didn't know what she was doing as long as she kept at it for another 30 seconds, enough time for him to run and get his robe. Off he went but luck, as it happened, that day was not on his side, at least not whole heartedly. Just as his fingers reached for the blue garment he heard her footsteps coming back and desperate grabbed the first thing off the table.

Had he tried to disentangle the robe he would have mostly likely failed and embarrassed himself further.

Fortunately his soldier was no longer at attention, hadn't been since two seconds after the… awkward moment… those few minutes ago.

Now however he found himself, once again in front of Max, one of the silver domes that had covered breakfast, covering something different than it probably ever had while she once again stared at him. Alec's eyes were open this time so he could see her, had seen her hesitate spotting him but continue regaining her wits till she stood in front of him, holding something for him to take.

At first it didn't register, he was in suspense. For what he didn't know but for something.

"Here."

That one word was enough to make him jump, fortunately though he didn't drop his only cover. She was holding out clothes for him, and she wasn't saying a word to hassle him. Alec wasn't sure whether to be grateful or frightened.

Uncertain he took the bundle and saw her turn around giving him enough space but without leaving and in understanding Alec put the saviour of whatever was left of his dignity down and began to dress.

"You know, yesterday I worked really hard to keep your virtue intact and today you decide to give me a full show," Max began, she had to keep the attention on him because if it drifted to her it would all blow up in her face.

Ok so maybe she was going to give him a bit of a hard time.

"I assure you that it wasn't my intention," he said, not much humour in his voice.

Max smiled knowing that though he couldn't see her he'd know anyway, "The reason you woke up naked is because yesterday when you fell in the fountain and hit your head you fainted and I had to call Alden to help me get you back here. Al only stuck around long enough to say that I better take you out of your wet clothes and left. By the way, you're really annoying when unconscious."

Alec smirked pulling the shirt on and reaching for his trousers. His boxers were amazingly comfy and having a quick gander at the label he read "100 Cotton" and realised she must have bought them for him the other day on their shopping trip.

"I apologise."

His wit was back, "Anyway, your pants were amazingly hard to remove and you boxers came off as well. You can relax, nothing happened, that you can't remember."

'Filthy little liar,' Max thought and couldn't stop herself from the twinge of disappointment.

Relief was mixed with regret and Alec quickly repressed his thoughts. Nothing was supposed to happen; the key word here was PRETENDING to be together. He'd tried curbing his attraction to her but nothing worked, the only thing that helped him relax was by taking it out on her, pissing her off with all his innuendos and jokes.

"I fell into the fountain?" he asked, "Are you sure I fell?"

"Yes, why? Don't you trust me?"

Alec grinned suspiciously as he buttoned his shorts and fastened the leather belt. That had been a little too defensive.

"Of course."

Max whooshed a giant breath of reprieve, 'He doesn't remember.'

"Let's just forget about this, tomorrow night we hit this place and never look back and I need you to fill, I mean I need to fill you in on the dick knack, uh knick knack of details I haven't boned, I mean told you about," Max stuttered Freudian slip upon Freudian slip.

Thank god she wasn't looking at him or this would be worse.

"It's safe to turn around," he answered and Max couldn't tell his tone.

Now her brain decides to remember and acknowledge what happened. Now of all times.

"Hood, uh good! Good I mean!" smiling weakly she tried to avoid his gaze, "I'll get dressed, won't take schlong, gong! I mean it was long! Won't take a minute!" almost screaming the last one Max made a beeline for the wardrobe. If she didn't get her act together this would be a long day and a longer trip back.

He was embarrassed not you, and let's try to keep it that way.

Alec grinned devilishly. Yes it had been an incredibly embarrassing moment, not because she saw him naked, he wouldn't have given a toss about that, but because even though she probably hadn't realised –Alec recognized now- he'd flaunted exactly how she affected him. Max had probably taken it as a morning hard on. His own embarrassment was gone, sure he didn't want it brought up to Cindy or Mole or god forbid Joshua but he could live with it.

The way she was reacting now, was a whole lot more interesting. Checklist please.

Sexually frustrated? Yes.

Thought of him as a brother? No.

Adopted Granpa's blessing? Check.

First physical contact established? Most likely. Alec still wasn't totally clear on what had been real and what had been dream but from the way she'd reacted something had happened.

Oozing sex appeal? Check.

Couldn't stop talking about his package? Check.